PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The Clay Studio Center for Innovation in Ceramic Art, Philadelphia’s preeminent ceramic arts center, announces the 19th annual Small Favors exhibition. Opening April 10, nearly 400 intricate artworks in four-inch cubes will be on display and for sale in The Clay Studio’s Jill Bonovitz Gallery through June 29. The popular annual exhibition includes works submitted by nationally known artists similar to what they typically create, at a reduced scale or something entirely new and unique, alongside works by some of the best of Philadelphia’s up-and-coming artists.

Small Favors features internationally recognized established artists alongside emerging artists, allowing The Clay Studio to present works in a broad price range – from $35 to $3,500 – offering multiple price points to patrons. The show engages artists’ creativity in new and exciting ways with the challenge of making pieces on a very small scale. For some, their contributions are similar to their usual artistic practice except at a reduced scale, while others take the opportunity to break away from their typical creations. Each year, The Clay Studio puts out an open call for juried work and invites a select group of artists to participate. In 2025, the exhibition features work from artists based in Japan, China, Budapest, and others across the United States as well as right here in Philadelphia.

To reflect the ceramic art community’s generous spirit, The Clay Studio expanded the Small Favor parameters to include various artistic mediums in 2018. This led to greater variety throughout the exhibition and different creative methods, including artworks made from wood, metal, glass, fiber, paper, paint, and, of course, clay. From animals to reinterpreted everyday objects to one-of-a-kind sculptures, sharing Small Favors with the public encourages art enthusiasts to become collectors while appealing to established connoisseurs looking for rare, intricate pieces from their favorite artists.

For Small Favors, many artists tap into their imaginations to create unique sculptures full of stories or transport the viewer to imaginative worlds. Ceramicist Claire McCauley delivers “Fungi King,” a new sculpture depicting adorable critters in captivating imaginary landscapes. American artist Sasha Koozel Reibstein strives to merge beauty and grit in her dazzling ceramic sculptures, including her sea anemone-like “Anthesis” made from glossy porcelain and mother of pearl. In his piece “Sculpture VI,” World-renowned sculptor Sergei Isupov uses traditional hand-building and sculpting techniques to combine surface and form with narrative painting using stains and clear glaze.

The exhibition also offers functional art, including small mugs, cups, and vases. Danish ceramic artist Kadri Pärnamets continues her practice of creating hand-built porcelain sculptures inspired by water with her submission “Sculpturel,” a beautifully painted piece that fills the display cube with a small, rippling ocean. Korean-American ceramic sculptor and potter Tyler Quintin contributed a mythical vessel, “Moon Jar,” which merges geometric shapes with smooth but intricately detailed surfaces.

Visitors can view Small Favors works with mountable plastic display cubes in the Jill Bonovitz Gallery and purchase them at The Shop. The works will be available for pick up after the exhibition closes on June 29. All items are also available online through The Clay Studio website. Each plastic display cube is handmade by the Philadelphia-based company Everything Plastic – an official Small Favors sponsor.
Cubes are $26 and provide an easy, instant way to display the works around the house.

“Jurying the hundreds of applications we get for Small Favors each year is a challenge and a joySmall Favors,” said Jennifer Zwilling, Curator and Director of Artistic Programs at The Clay Studio. “The skill and creativity represented by the artworks in the show is truly inspirational. Some of my favorite themes that emerged this year among the group are the cycle of life, the beauty in everyday objects, and the whimsy of anthropomorphic animals.”

For each sale, 50% of the proceeds directly support the artists, while the other 50% contribute to The Clay Studio’s direct programming, including community programs and operations. Their community outreach work has served 35,000 people annually, including 5,000 youth and adults.

All exhibitions are free to view, and The Clay Studio is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Clay Studio to meet some of the artists and choose favorites at the opening on Second Thursday Gallery Night on American Street, April 10th, from 5 to 8 p.m.